Thread feed mechanism for gripper shuttle looms



March 5, 1957 E. PFARRWALLER Filed Aug. 27, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet l BEBE Buy i 6o l 1/L-n-*1 I/'INVENTOR EFW/N Ef-A REWALLER.

BY/KW A WUR/V52.

March 5, 1957 E. PFARRwALLi-:R 2,783,778

THREAD FEED MECHANISM FOR GRIPPER SHUTTLE LooMs Filed Aug. 27, 17955 5 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTR. EFW/N RPA ken/ALLER.

Afro/MEX March 5, 1957l E. PFARRWALLER THREAD FEED MECHANISM FOR GRIPPER SHUTTLE Looms.

5 Sheets-sheet s Filed Aug. 27, 1953' R mp A F P W w E HUMA/EX March 5, 1957 E. PFARRWALLER 2,783,778

THREAD FEED MECHANISM FOR GRIPPER SHUTTLE Loon/1s Filed Angl 27, -1953 5 sheets-sheet 4 Fig. 1o

Fig. 12

122 123 nsa 124 778 lla INVENTOR. EE'w/N PPAR/w/ ILLEE -BY iwf/L March 5, 1957 E. PFARRWALLER THREAD FEED MECHANISM FOR GRIPPER SHUTTLE LOOMS Filed Aug. 27, 195s 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Iulillllll INVENTOR. Erw/N f/fn ,QWALLER BY ,47m NEK Unite. rates arent THREAD FEED MECHANISM FOR GRIPPER SHUTTLE LOOMS Erwin Pfarrwaller, Winterthur, Switzerland, assignor to Sulzer Freres, Societe Anonyme, Winterthur, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Application August 27, 1953, Serial No. 376,780 Claims priority, application Switzerland August 27, 1952 17 Claims. (Cl. 139-126) The present invention relates to a weaving machine having gripper shuttles guided to travel in a closed circuit and having weft thread supply spools arranged outside of the shuttles; the invention refers more particularly to controlled devices for individually feeding the thread from individual spools to a shuttle which is to be made ready for being picked and moved by a shuttle feeder into picking position.

ln the mechanism, according to the invention, the thread to be fed to a shuttle is held by a thread feeder which travels substantially in the same path as the shuttle travels to which the thread must be connected so that the portion of the thread which projects from the thread feeder for insertion into the thread clamp of the shuttle, or the thread feeder itself travels in the space enclosed by the clamping faces of the open thread clamp of the shuttle during the time the shuttle moves in the shuttle feeder toward the position from which the shuttle is picked.

The novel features which are characteristic of the in vention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, and additional objects and advantages thereof will best be understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof when read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 diagrammatically illustrates a weaving machine seen from the fabric side;

Fig. 2 is a part sectional diagrammatic top view of the thread transfer or feeder mechanism and of the shuttle feeder according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 2 showing a drive for the device for changing the thread feeders and a locking means for the device;

Figs. 4 and 5 are a top view and a side View, respectively, of the thread clamps of a shuttle and of a thread feeder;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of the paths of the thread portions to be seized and of the thread transfer devices as well as of the space encompassed by the clamping faces of the open thread clamp of the shuttle when the latter is moved by the shuttle feeder toward the picking position;

Figs. 7 and 8 are perspective diagrammatic illustrations of the mechanism according to the invention in two different operating positions;

Fig. 9 is a diagram indicating the movement of different parts of the mechanism during a picking operation;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic side view of a modified device according to the invention in which the thread feeders form a chain moving in a closed path;

"ree

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic part sectional side view of a third modification of the mechanism according to the invention;

Fig. l5 is a part sectional elevation of a fourth modifcation; p

Fig. 16 is a view along line XVI-XVI and looking in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 15; j

Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic illustration of a modified shuttle feeder mechanism;

Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic illustration of parts of the mechanism according to Fig. 17 showing a shuttle and a weft thread feeder in the two end positions of the shuttle in the shuttle feeder;

Fig. 19 is a part sectional diagrammatic illustration of a further modification of a shuttle feeder and weft thread transfer mechanism; Y

Fig. 20 is a part sectional View of the mechanism shown in Fig. 19, the view being taken at a right angle to the plane of Fig. 19.

Like parts are designated by like numerals in all Figures of the drawing.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawing, driving means for operating the weaving machine are associated with the right side of a machine frame 1 and adapted to actuate all mechanisms required for Weaving,

. such as a warp beam 2 unwinding the warp 3 which passes Fig. 1l is a section of Fig. 10 taken along line Xl-Xl;

Fig. 13 is a sectiontaken along line XIII-XIII in Fig. 12;

through the heddles 13 to form a shed, and a cloth beam 5 on which the fabric is wound. Numeral 6 designates a main drive shaft which is rotated by a motor 16 through a clutch 15 and actuates a shuttle picking mech- The weft threads 10 pulled individually from spools 11- are individually fed to a shuttle 14 in the picking mechanism 7 and are moved with the shuttle through the shed toward the shuttle receiving device 8. The idle shuttles are returned below the shed from the receiving device 8 to the picking device 7. A control shaft 12 can be rotated by manipulation of a lever 12 for engaging and disengaging the clutch 15 and connecting and disconnecting the main shaft 6 with and from the motor 16. A brake 17 is provided for quickly stopping rotation of shaft 6 and thereby stopping the Weaving machine. The disengaged shaft 6 can be rotated by hand by means of a wheel 18 connected with the shaft.

Fig. 2 diagrammatically illustrates some of the parts in the picking device 7. Shuttle 14 is held by the shuttle feeder 25' in the position in which the weft thread 10a is connected with the shuttle by the weft thread feeder 26a. There are four thread feeders 26a, b, c and d which are longitudinally movably supported by. a thread changer 27. The latter is swing'ably supported by a shaft 28 which also rotatably supports the shuttle feeder 25 and is rotatably supported in bearings 29 and 3:0.- A locking plate 31, to be described later, is mounted ontthe frame 1 and disposed at the rear end of the thread feeders 26a to d. The latter can be longitudinally moved .by means of a slide member 32, sliding on a rail33 and having a nose 34. The slide member 32 is connected with a lever 35 by means of a link 36. Lever 35 is mounted on a stationary fulcrum 37 and carries a roller 38 running in a groove 39 on the cylindrical surface of a member 40. An opener 41 forv the thread clamps of the shuttles is revolvably supported by the shaft 28. The shuttles 14 are picked by a member 42 slidable Aon 'a guide rail 43 and actuated in the conventional manner by a picker 91 (Fig. 7). v

Shaft 44 carries a spur gear wheel 45 which is driven by the main shaft 6 of the weaving machine by means not shown. Shaft 44 drives cam shafts 46 and 47. The former carries a cam 48 which abuts against a roller 50 at one end of a longitudinally slidably supported rod 51 and reciprocates the rod against the action of a. spiring essayes .3 51. The other end of rod 5 1; is connected with the shuttle feeder 25 by means of a link 52.

Shaft 46 carries another cam, 53, for actuating the thread clamp opener 41 by means of a Vroller Se at one end of a rod 55 and a ll'i'nl: 56 at the other end 'of the rod in a similar manner as cam d8 actuates the shuttle feeder 25. l

A v'spur gear wheel S7 mounted on shaft 46 drives a speed changing gear 58, 59 of which gear wheel 59 is freely rotatable on shaft 46. Also rotatablysupported by shaft 46 is a cam 6l which is rigidly connected with gear wheel 59 by means of a sleeve 60 and which actuates a follower roller 62 mounted on one end of a rod 63, the other end of the rod being connected by means of a link 64 with the thread changer 27 for selectively placing one of the weft thread feeders 26a to al in position for feeding a weft thread to a shuttle.

Shaft 47 carries the grooved drum 4d and a cam 65 fo'r actuating a locking pin 66 against the action of a spring 66' for locking the thread changer 27. Pin 66 is provided with a follower roller 67 rolling on cam 65. Shaft 47 also carries a cam 68 for actuating a pin 69 against the action of spring 68. Pin 69 is adapted to open the thread clamps at the ends of thread feeders 26a to d. Pin 69 has a roller 70 at its rear end for engaging the cam 68. A cam 71 also mounted on shaft 47 serves to actuate a pin 72 against the action of a spring 72. Pin 72 is adapted to open the thread clamps on the shuttles 14 and has a roller 73 at its rear end for engaging cam 71. The pins 66, 69 and 72 are longitudinally slidably supported by the stationary frame of the weaving machine.

The thread changer 27 is provided with the same number of recesses 75 (Fig. 3) for receiving the end of pin 66, as there are thread feeders 26.

Figs. 4 and 5, as Fig. 2, illustrate a shuttle 14 and the thread'feeder 26:1 in the position for feeding the end of a weft thread to the shuttle. The shuttle 14 in the feeder 25 is in such a position relatively to the thread feeder 26a that the clamping faces 76, 77 of the clamp 78 of the shuttle 14 grip the weft thread 10a in the rear of the clamp faces 79 of the thread clamp 30 of the thread feeder 26a, i. e, at the right of the faces 79 in Figs. 4 and 5. Y

The thread clamp 78 is pushed in the position shown in dash-dotted lines into the free space 3l between two neighboring thread feeders 26. Space 81 is wider than the width of the jaws of clamp 78. When the thread clamp 78 is opened by the opener 41, its jaws can straddle the narrow parts 82 of the jaws of clamp 89 and pass same. The jaws of clamp are riveted to a bar 83 and are each provided with 'aps '8d for holding the jaws to the bar 83 without hindering movement of the ja'ws during opening and closing of the clamp.

The rear ends of bars 33, which form part of the thread Vfeeders 26, are individually provided with two grooves 85 and S6. The nose 34 of slide member 32 which slides on rail 33, engages groove 85 when the slide is moved to the left (Fig. by means of the lever 35 (Fig. 2). Groove 86 is engaged by the locking plate 31 (Fig. 7) for preventing longitudinal movement of an idle thread feeder 26. If thread changer 27 is revolved for feeding a different thread to a shuttle, the groove 85 of the feeder which is in position for feeding a thread to a shuttle is engaged by the nose 34 while the groove 8 6 of the same feeder is opposite a recess 95 in locking plate 31 (Figs. 7, 8) so that thethread feeder can be advanced toward the shuttle.

Fig. 6 shows a shuttle 14 in lowermost position in which it is received by the shuttle feeder 25, the shuttle clamp 78 being held open, and in the position in which a weft thread is transferred to the shuttle from a thread feeder. The clamping faces 76 and 77 encompass a space 87 while the shuttle feeder 25 travels from the vertical to the horizontal position. The clamps of the thread feeders 26a to a' and the threads held thereby travel along a path 38 disposed within the space 37 during a thread transfer operation. The space 87 encompassed by the faces 76, 77 of the open clamp '78 of the shuttle 14 during its movement towards the picking position extends in the direction of the pick and transversely thereto. The plane of Fig. 6 is transverse to the direction of the pick. The jaws 76, 77 remain fully open while the shuttle 14 travels from the vertical to the horizontal position, the space 87 being located between the innermost and the outermost quarter circle arc in Fig. 6. As seen in Figs. 5 and ll, the extent of the space 87 in the direction of the pick is equal to the width of the clamping faces 76, 77. In Fig. 5 the space 87 is so large, i. c. the clamp 78 is so far opened that the path of the thread transfer means Si? carrying the end portion of the weft thread 1t) to be seized is at the left of the clamping point of the shuttle clamp. Whereas in Fig. 5 the clamps 73 and Sil partly overlap in the direction of the picking path, the clamps are juxtapositioned in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. ll, only the thread portion projecting to the `left from the clamp lil@ transgressing the space 87.

The path 38 is congruent with the arc in the middle of the space 87. The plane 39 of the closed clamping faces 76, 77 of the shuttle clamp '73 is so positioned relatively to the imaginary surface 96, which is formed by the moving thread 16 to be gripped by the shuttle when the thread moves on the path S8 during the thread transfer operation, that the plane 39 becomes tangent to the surface when the shuttle clamp moves in the region of the path 88. kThe surface 90 is visible only in section in Figi 6, the section coinciding with the path 88.

The path 88 need not be exactly congruent with the arc in the middle of space 87, but may have a configuration as indicated by the lines 83a and 881) without collision of the narrow parts S2 of the clamp et) of a thread transfer member or feeder 26 with the clamping surfaces 76, 77. To demonstrate this, the clamp 86 is shown on the path 88a. In the lower position, the narrow parts 82 are spaced from the clamping face 77, coming very closely to the clamping face 76 in the horizontal transfer position. The plane 89 of the closed clamping faces 76, 77 of the thread clamp 78 is not tangent to the path 88a and 88h.

The portion of the path of the shuttle clamp moving towards the shuttle picking position, which portion substantially coincides with the path of the thread feeder clamp, need not be as great as the movement of the shuttle from the vertical position, in which an idle shuttle is received by the shuttle feeder, to the horizontal position from which the shuttle is picked.

Only a portion of the 'pathof the clamp` 480 of the thread feeder 26 may conform with the path 'of the shuttle 14 indicated by the space 87 in Fig. 6. This portion would be near the picking position. The path of the thread feeder in the lower part of Fig. 6 may be in the plane 89 and tangent to the path 90 and may follow the latter from the tangent point. In this case the movement of the shuttle feeder or lifter 25 and that of the thread feeders 26 must be so correlated that up to the tangent pointthe clamp 78 is between two clamps 80. The clamps 78 and 8h must move at the same speed up to the aforedescribed tangent point. The thread 10 is transferred to the shuttle while the shuttle moves toward the picking position.

In all aforedescrihed modifications the path of the thread portion to be gripped, i. egthe path of the thread feeder clamps must be arranged within the space which is encompassed by the clamp faces 76, 77 of the opened clamp 78 of the shuttle 14 dur-ing the movement of the latter toward picking position and while the path of the shuttle and that of the thread end or of the thread feeder clamps coincide.

hearts Figsfl and 8 illustrate the cooperating parts in perspective views, the individual parts being shown much longer than they actually are,'to make the illustration clearer.

In Fig. 7 the shuttle 14 has just been moved from the return conveyor 9 into the shuttle feeder or shuttle lifter 25. The clamp 78 of the shuttle is between the clamps 80d and 80C of two neighboring thread feeders or thread transfer devices 26e` and d, respectively. The control of the element 41 by means of the cam 53 (Fig. 2) for opening the shuttle clamp 78 is so adjusted relatively to the control of the shuttle lifter by means of the cam 48, that the thread clamp or gripper 78 of the shuttle 14 is opened before the shuttle is lifted. Fig. 7 shows the mechanism at this moment.

The thread transfer means 26a in whose groove 85 the nose 34 of the slide member 32 was inserted for moving the thread feeder toward the thread transfer position, the groove 86 being adjacent to the recess 95 in the locking plate 31, has been pushed by the lever 35 toward the shed and has gripped the weft thread 10a which has been inserted in the shed 92 by the previously picked shuttle. For this purpose the clamp 80a has been opened by a movement of the clamp opener 'l2 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 7 and has been closed by withdrawing the clamp opener 72 after the thread 10a has been gripped. Thereupon the thread 10a is cut by the scissors 94 and the thread feeder 26a is returned to starting position by means of the lever 35, the thread 10a being pulled back and tensioned by a conventional thread tensioner, not shown. The thread feeder 26a is now i again as far back as the thread feeders 26b to d.

After opening of the clamp 78 by means of the opener 41, the shuttle feeder 2S can be lifted to the thread transfer position (Fig. 8). The open clamp 78 whose clamping faces 76, 77 are positioned in the rear of the clamping point of the thread feeder clamps 80a to d encompasses the space 87 (Fig. 6) when the shuttle moves in the shuttle feeder toward the picking position. The path of the thread feeders 26a to d or rather their thread clamps 80a to d is situated within the space 87. The thread changer 27 may be revolved already during the time during which the shuttle feeder 25 lifts a shuttle 14 into picking position.

This has the advantage that the selected thread 10 can be wholly orpartly prepared for the shuttle 14 which must be made ready for the pick, within the period during which the new shuttle 14 is moved to picking position.

After moving the thread feeder 26 carrying the selected thread 10 by rotation of the changer element 27 to the thread transfer position, the lock pin 66, Fig. 3, is moved to the left into the respective recess 75 for arresting the changer V27. This assures correct position of the clamp 80 and of the thread 16 relatively to clamp 78. yThe clamp 86a can now be opened by advancing the clamp opener 69 in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 8, after the clamp 78 of the shuttle 14 has been closed by a downward swing of the opener 41 and has gripped the thread The shuttle 14 is now ready lfor the pick which is effected by a beater 91-which seizes the free rear corner of the shuttle by means of a pin 42. Thereupon the shuttle lifter 25 returns to its initial position shown in Fig. 7. v An abutment 93, Fig. 8, mounted on the frame 1 serves for securing the correct position of the shuttle -14 in the shuttle feeder 25 after arrivalrof the shuttle from the conveyor 9, Fig. 7.

'Ihe curves in the diagram Fig. 9 illustrate the movement of several elements of the mechanism according toV the invention during one revolution of the shaft operating the lay.

'Curve A indicateshthe movement of the lay which bei gins at O" `and`rises between points a and b, the latter representing the^-beat-up position,` returning at c to the` into thread transfer position.

Y 6 initial'po'sition. The two parallel vertical lines indicate the region where the shuttle islpicked. 'The lay remains in its rest position d uring the period which is represented in the diagram at the right of the picking region.

The curve B indicates the movement of the shuttle beater 42. The spring for actuating the shuttle beater.91 is tensioned in the conventional manner between points d and e and the beater is released at point f for picking the shuttle. Point f corresponds to the position of the beater 91 and of the shuttle 14 in Fig. 8.

Curve C illustrates the movement of the shuttle feeder 25. At point g a shuttle has been received and the feeder 2S is in its lowermost position, Fig. 7. Thereupon the beater is moved through position h into position i, the latter corresponding to the picking position of the shuttle l. After the shuttle has been picked, the shuttle feeder 25 is returned between points j and g to its initial position in which it can receive the next following shuttle.

Curve D represents the movement of the shuttle opener 41 which is revolved between points k and m for opening the clamp 78. The movement between points m and n coincides with the movement of the shuttle feeder between points g and h. After reaching point n, the clamp opener 41 is withdrawn from the clamp 78 so that the clamp 78 is closed at point o after it has gripped the thread 10. Thereupon the clamp opener 41 returns to its initial position.

Curve E indicates the longitudinal movement of a thread feeder 26 after its longitudinal axis has been moved Point p represents'the position of the thread feeder 26a shown in Fig. 7 in which its thread clamp is adjacent to the shed and grips the cutoff thread 10a. The thread feeder isv again in its initial position (Fig. 8) at point q which is located at the left of points h and n. At point r the thread `feeder is seized by the nose 34 (Fig. 2) and lmoved toward the shedj92 (Fig. 7). it arrived at the shed at point s. Between points s and p the thread cramp'ii is opened, the thread 10 is gripped, the clamp 30 is closed, and the thread is cut by means of scissors 93. v

Curve F represents the movement of the clamp opener 69 for the thread feeder 26a in the rear position adjacent to the shuttle. Point t indicates the position in'which the `opener 69 moves to the left, Fig. 2, reaching its end position at u and opening clamp 88a shortly before, and after the thread 10a has been taken over by the shuttle 14. Clamp S0 remains open `during the pick up to point v where the thread is enclosed in the shed. The clamp opener 69 is retracted between points v and w before the thread feeder 26a is -moved rforward towards the shed.

Curve G represents the movement of the clamp opener 72 which is moved to the left at point x, Fig. 2, yfor opening` the clamp a during the short period of time when the thread feeder 26 is at the shed 92. The clamp 80a of the thread feeder 26a is fully open and the thread is at the clamping point 79, Fig. 4, at point y. Thereupon' the opener 72 moves again to the right, Fig. 2, the clamp 80 being closed and the opener 72 being in rest position at point z.

The thread changer 27 moves according to curve H. The weft thread 10 can be changed only when all feeders 26 are in their rear positions, i. e. a change can be eected only between the points aa and bb. The point aa is between the points g and h of the curve C. It is obvious that the change of the threads 10 according to curve H is effected simultaneously with the lifting of the shuttle 14 by'vmeans of the shuttle feeder 25. Point bb is approximately at the same ordinate as point i -of curve C so that the thread 10, which must be picked, as well as the shuttle 14 reach the thread transfer position substantially at the same time.

Curve K illustrates the movement of the locking pin 66 of the thread changer 27. Locking is interrupted onlyv for a short period between points cc and dd because,-during this period the thread change is eifected according t0- @essere the sans .I1 peints. da and ab. Drang the est sit-tbs tires the .thread chasser leslie@ by the 6@ Whereas. a .the artt .ernlodnsnt of the .invntivn the thread feeders are arranged in a thread changer element 'which is moved for changing the weft thread 10, in the embodiment according. to" Fisa stationary track mounted on `the tranne4 1, is provided, the track having an irterior and an interior guide rail 101 and 102, respectively. Thread transfer devices 103 are arranged between these guide rails which are interconnected by pins 104 to form a chain. The shuttle feeder 25, w ich is shown in fnll lines its low position 105 and in dash-and-dot lines initslupper position 105, controls the path of the shuttle towards the picking position, A portion of the path 10.0 of the thread transfer device 103 coincides with 4the path 1:95., 10d of the shuttle during the change of the weit thread. The rest of the path 100 may have any desired configuration, no conformity being required outside of the path 105, 106. The return motion of the empty shuttie v feeder 2,5 from the picking position to the shuttle loadies, position may be ditferent from the metier-1. of the feedr 15. when a shuttle is in the teedee This, wotild be the case, for example, if, during the retngn motion of the feeder 25, the shaft 2,8, or the fulcrurn of the shuttle feeder has been moved to the left or pwards, depending whether the picking position is at 106v or at 105 so that this movement which is in addition to the rotation of the shuttle feeder avoids injury of the thread to be picked by the part of the feeder which is located in the picking path.

Only a few thread transfer devices 103 are shown in Fig, L0. They form a chain which may either be closed so`that the Whole track 100 is filled with thread `transfer devices 103 or which maybe open so that the devices 103 yform. a chain which is reciprocated in the track 100 so that individual devices 103 can be moved to the thread transfer position, for example, at point 106.

In Fig'. ll, which shows a section taken along line XI-XI of Fig. l0, the thread transfer devices 103 are illustrated with the pins 104. Abutments 107 serve for lateral guidance of the devices103 on the inner guide rail 102 '1" he weft thread 10 moves through the device 103 and is held by the clamps 108 of the devices 1,03 so thatkk thethread portion which is 'held read-y to be seized; by the clamp. 7S of a shuttle 14 projects to the left beyond the clamping point of the clamps 103. in this case the clamps 78 and 10S do not overlap. The space 87, Fig. 6, between the clamping faces 7o, 77 can therefore be smaller than it has to be if the clamps 103 must pass thrpngh the clamps 78.. Consequently, the opening of the clamp`s73 can be smaller.

The thread transfer devices 10S are driven by means of a wheel 109 having rollers 111 supported by pins 110, eachdevice being provided wit-h a shield 112 having a slot 113. Upon rotation of wheel 109, the rollers 111 engage the slots113 and move the chainto the right or to the left; depending on the direction of rotation of the4 Wheel. The shaft 114 of the wheel 109 is connected with the main shaft 6 of the weaving machine, for exampleby means of a'Geneva` drive, not shown, for rotating the wheel 109 fromposition an to position bb (curve H, Fig. 9) by one pitch when theV devices 1&3 must be moved to the thread transfer position in the sequence of their arrangement.

The device 103 shown in Figs. l0 and 1l cannot be movedlongitudinally in the direction of the pickingpath and cannot seize a weft thread 10 at the shed 92 and cannot pull the thread back. Therefore a separate conventional thread pull back -rneansmust be provided for the-devices 103 which is not shown inFigs. l0 and l1. This pull back means seizes an individual` thread end which must besevered and moves the weft threadback to the thread transfer device 103 which is at thethreadtransfer position and-whose thread clamp 10S'is closed'by Withdrawal; of a thread` opener, notV shown, for receiving a weftthread from the thread pulll backmeans.-

1t can be seen in Figs. 12 and 13 thatthedevices103 have a lJfshaped cross Section in the cavity of which the thread clamp 1027i` is arranged. Space for the thread is provided between the prongs of the clamp 108. The thread 10 is tensioned by means of a conventional thread tensioner which is not illustrated.

Instead of constructing the devices 103 as thread transfer Imechanisms, as shown in Figs. 10 to 13, they may constitute holders provided with a rectangular slot for receiving a thread transfer device in the form of a rod, like the thread feeders 26, which can also be. used for pulling back the thread.

The thread `transfer devices A26v (Figs, 2 and 3,) as well as the devices 103 (Figs. l0 to 12) are arranged on a substantially cylindrical surface. The, cylinder may have a circular cross section as` in'FigS.. 2 and 3 or the cylindrical surface may be composed of arcuated portions with interposed plane portions as in Fig. 10.

In the arrangement according to Fig. 14 the thread transfer devices 115 move on a conical surface. 116, The longitudinal axis of the device 115a which is in the thread transfer position is in the same direction as the. picking path. This determines the position of the cone surface. 116 in the frame 1 of the Weaving machine. The cone 115 is rotated by means of a gear wheel 117 driven by the main shaft 6, control means, not shown, as described in connection with the roller wheel 109 being interposedV between wheel 117 and shaft 6. The base of the cone 116 faces the shed 92,.

Longitudinal displacement of the devices 115, which have a T-shaped foot 118 shown in dotted lines in the device 115g and movable in T-shaped channels 119 of which there are twelve in the cone drum 116, is effected by a slide 120 which can be reciprocated along a` rail 121 corresponding to the rail 33 in Fig. 2 and which has a finger 122 engaging a protuberance 123 of the device 115 which is in thread transfer position. The thread clamp 124 of the device 115;: is opened and closed adjacent to the shed 92 by a clamp opener, not Shown, for s eizing and pulling back a weft thread 10.

A locking disc 125 corresponding to the disc 3.1. in Fig. 2 serves for arrestinlgthe thread transfer devices 115 in their rear positions, protuberances 126 being provided for this purpose which engage the groove 127 of the disc 125 and prevent longitudinal movement of` the thread feeders 115 except when they are in thread transfer position in which a cavity 128 permits the protuberance 126 to leave the groove 127. The locking disc 125 is formed as a cone to suit the conical support of the thread feeders 115.

The locking disc 130, Figs. 15, 16, serves the same purpose as the discs 31 and 125. Disc 130. engages a groove 132 of a thread transfer device 131. Instead of providing a second groove for -the finger 133, the lock ing disc in Figs. 15 and 1'6 is provided with an opening 134 which is so largev that it can accommodate the slide 135 together with the finger 133, thev former being reciprocated on a rail 136 by means ofthe lever 35 as in Fig. 2 fory actuating the device; its rear position, the finger 133 fills the gap formed'Y by the opening 134 in the lock rim 137 of the disc 130. In this position, the devices 13 2, which move, in a circle, ca n be changed without interruption of guidance and' locking of the devicesA 131 by the opening 134.

Whereas the number of thread feeders or thread transfer devices is limited4 in the thread changer 2'7,y inthe modifications illustratedL in Figs. 10, 11 and 14 a muchj greater number of thread feeders canH be accommodated" andlamuch greater number of different weft threadsl can be connected with the shuttle'14 without increasingthe space required around the shuttle feeder 25.

In the modification shown in Figs. 17 andi18,` avshuttlefeeder or--lifter 150 revolves around f an airisy 151 l'dfis When the slide 135 i's inV return mechanism into the shut-tle lifter'150 iipK-fto anabut'- ment 153 iii the direction of the arrow 152. #In this position the thread clamp 154 of the shuttle 14 is still at the left side of the thread clamp 155 of the thread transfer device, 156. The latter, and several other transfer devices are longitudinally movably carriedby the 4carrier 157 which is constructed and actuated like the member 27 in Fig. 2. The device 156 is actuated like the d vices 26a to d in Fig. 2. l

eA control member 158 is rigidly connected with the frame of the loom and has a control `ed-ge 15.8, following a screw line around the axis 151 and being spaced from said axis as far as the longitudinal center line of the shuttle 14 is spaced from the axis 151. The screw line extends on about one quarter circle. .There is sufficient space adjacent to the bottom of the member 158 to afford free passage of the shuttle from the return conveyor into the lifter 150. l

As shown in Fig. 18, the member 158 pushes the shuttle to the right while the shuttle is lifted by the shuttle lifter, until the thread clamp 154 overlaps 'the clamp 155 in the same manner as shown in Figs.. 4 aud 5. Prior to this movement of the shuttle to the right, the clamp 154 is opened by a clamp opener like the opener 41 in Fig. 2 so that the clamp 154 can be moved past the thread clamp 155. l

Fig. 18 illustrates the initial and the end position of the shuttle 14, the dash-and-dot line indicating the control edge 158.

The arrangement :according to Figs. 17 and 18 has the advantage that the position of lthe shuttle 14 inserted in the lifter 150 relatively to that of the clamp 1'55 of the shuttle transfer device 156 can be exactly corrected even if. the position of the shuttle received in the shuttle lifter is incorrect as may be the case when the loom is operated at a great number of picks.

1n the modification shown in Fig. 19, the shuttle carrier 16) revolves around an `axis 161 of a shaft which is at a right angle to the plane of Fig. 19. The shaft is driven by a cam arrangement such as 48 to 52 in Fig. 2.

The shuttle 14 is introduced in thedirection of arrow 162 from a shuttle return device, not shown, into a channel 163 of a shuttle carrier or feeder 160, when ythe latter is in the position I shown in full lines. Thereupon the feeder 160 is swung into position II shown in dash-and-dot linesV in a planeincluding the picking -path 164. Several thread transfer devices-16,5 are juxtapositioned and movably supported in a thread changer member 166 for' changing the threads. Thethread clamps 167 of the devices 165 are also in a plane including the picking path 164. Eachof the devices 165 receives thread from a different weft thread hobbin, the threads being presented to theshuttles 14 bythe clamps' 167.

For selecting the thread to be picked, the thread changer 166 is moved in the direction of arrow 169 in a guide 168 rigidly connected with the loom frame 1. A cam mechanism actuated by the loom device and as shown in Fig. 2 may be used for this purpose. The thread clamp 170 of the shuttle 14 is opened already when the shuttle feeder 160 leaves the position I so that the clamp 176.! can be moved past several clamps 167 and the shuttle feeder 160 and the thread changer 166 can be moved simultaneously and independently of each other.

Fig. 20 is a side view of the shuttle feeder 160 illustrating the thread changer 166 and its guide 168 in section. The member 166 moves in a plane which may be vertical or horizontal, or inclined, but which always includes the picking path 164, the rotation axis 161 of the shuttle feeder 160 being always arranged at a right angle to the plane` The shuttle feeder 160 is so positioned that the shuttle 14 which is introduced in the channel 163 and the clamp point of the shuttle clamp 170 are in the picking path so that the transfer of the thread can be accurately eiected.

`After insertion of a weft thread by a shuttle Minto' the shed, `,the respectivetransfer device is moved to ward the shed to seize the weft thread for cutting andA pulling back. A thread tensioner', not shown, whichmayA be of the type shown in Patent No. 2,589,429, prevents that `the weft thread becomes loose and forms a loop. The advanced position of theV device 165 is shown in dash-and-dot lines in Fig. 19. Actuationof the thread transfer device 165 which is in the direction of the picking path may be eifected as shown in Fig. 2 for the devices 26.

While specic embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions, additions and omissions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A weaving machine comprising gripper shuttles travelling in a closed cycle, a weft thread clamp on each of said shuttles, an opener for the clamps on said shuttles, a plurality of weft thread bobbins separate from said shuttles, a controlled weft thread transfer mechanism for individually, selectively transferring the threads from said bobbins to individual shuttles before the shuttles are picked, a shuttle feeder guiding the shuttle to be picked on a predetermined path from a shuttle receiving position to a shuttle picking position, said transfer mechanism including a plurality of thread feeders, a weft thread clanip on each of said thread feeders, and guide means for guiding said thread feeders to move their thread clamps on a predetermined path having at least a portion substantially coinciding with the path on.

which the clamps of said shuttles are guided from the shuttle receiving to the shuttle picking position, the clamps on said thread feeders passing through the opened clamp on a shuttle which is located between the receiving and the picking position.

2. A weaving machine comprising gripper shuttles trav-V ona predetermined path, said path having the same oon-4 liguration asa portion of the path on which said shuttles are guided, said shuttles having grippers passing the clamps of at leasttwo of said thread feeders while said shuttles move "from the receiving to the picking position.

3. A Weaving machine as defined in claim 2, comprising an opener for the grippers of said shuttles, the path on which said shuttle grippers travel having a portion coinciding substantially with a portion of the path on which said thread feeder clamps travel, and means for moving said gripper opener with the gripper of a shuttle moving toward the picking position for holding the shuttle gripper open and affording passage of a clamp of one of said thread feeders into the open shuttle gripper while the shuttle gripper travels on the portion of the path coinciding with a portion of the path of said thread feeder clamps.

4. A weaving machine as dei-ined in claim 2 in which the predetermined path on which said shuttles are guided is curved and in which said shuttle grippers have cooperating jaws having plane gripping faces, the plane of the gripping faces of the closed jaws being tangent to said curved path.

5. A weaving machine as defined in claim 2, said shuttle feeder being rotatable about an axis which is parallel to the picking path, said shuttle feeder including means maarre l 1 for temporarily holding said shuttles with their longitudinal axis parallelftothe rotation axis of the shuttle feeder, said guide means forsaid thread feeders being rotatable about the same axis as said` shuttle feeder is vrotatable and including means for longitudinally slidably supporting said thread feeders with their longitudinal axis parallel to the rotation axis of said guide means, the grippers of the shuttles held in said shuttle feeder being spaced from the common rotation axis of said shuttle feeder and of said guide means as far as the clamps of said thread feeders are spaced from said rotation axis.

6. A weaving machine as defined in claim 2, comprising an opener for said grippers, said shuttle feeder being rotatable and including means for temporarily holding said shuttles with their longitudinal axis parallel to the rotation axis of the shuttle feeder, said opener being rotatable about the same axis as said shuttle feeder.

7. A weaving machine according to claim 6, said clamp opener having the shape of a hook having an arc shaped arm.

8. A weaving machine as defined in claim 2, in which said thread feeders are axially movably supported by said guide means, the weft thread clamps of two neighboring thread feeders being so spaced as to accommodate a shuttle gripper therebetween, an opener for opening the thread grippers of the shuttles, an actuating mechanism for said opener, an actuating mechanism for said shuttle feeder, said actuating mechanisms being operatively interconnected for Iopening the gripper of a shuttle before the shuttle feeder moves the shuttle.

9. A weaving machine as defined in claim 2, in which said thread feeders are longitudinally movably supported in said guide means and the latter is swingable about an axis which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of said feeders.

10. A weaving machine as defined in claim 2, said thread feeders including a bar, a pair ofV resilient jaw members forming said weft thread clamp, each jaw member having an end portion made fast on said bar and a guide means slidably engaging said har for affording clamp opening and closing movement of the jaw member and preventing movement of the jaw member at a right angle to the opening and closing movement.

1l. A weaving machine as defined in claim 2, in which said thread feeders are formed of bars, said thread clamps being attached to one end of said bars.

l2. A weaving machine according to claim 1l, comprising locking means and means connected with each of said thread feeders for engaging said locking means and holding said feeders against longitudinal movement, said locking means including an inactive portion affording longitudinal movement of one of said thread feeders.

i3. A weaving machine according to claim 12, comprising actuating means adapted to engage and longitudinally Vmove, the* one of said thread feeders which is not held against longitudinal movement by said locking means. i Y' 14. A weaving machine as defined in claim 2, said thread feeders being positioned on an imaginary cylindrical surface and movably supported by said guide means.

l5. A weaving machine as defined in claim 2, said guide means having a conical outside surface, the base of the cone facing the shed and a generatrix of said conical outside surface extending in the direction of the pick, said thread feeders having a longitudinal configuration and being longitudinally slidably supported by said guide means on said outside surface.

16. A weaving machine comprising gripper shuttles travelling in a closed cycle, a plurality of weft thread bobbins separate from the shuttles, a controlled weft thread transfer mechanism for individually, selectively transferring the threads from said bobbins to individual shuttles before the shuttles are picked, a shuttle feeder guiding the shuttle to be picked on a predetermined path from a shuttle receiving position to a shuttle picking position, said transfer mechanism including a plurality of weft thread feeders and guide means for guiding said thread feeders on a predetermined path, having at least a portion having substantially the same configuration as a portion of the path on which said shuttles are guided, and locking means cooperative with said guide means for arresting the latter in predetermined positions.

17. A weaving machine comprising gripper shuttles travelling in a closed cycle, a weft thread clamp on each of said shuttles, an opener for the clamps on said shuttles, a plurality of weft thread bobbins separate from said shutties, a controlled weft thread transfer mechanism for individually, selectively transferring the threads from said bobbins to individual shuttles before the shuttles are picked, a shuttle feeder guiding the shuttle to be picked on a predetermined path from a shuttle receiving position to a shuttle picking position, said transfer mechanism including a plurality of thread feeders, a weft thread clamp on each of said thread feeders, and guide means for guiding said thread feeders to move their thread clamps on a predetermined path having at least a portion substantially coinciding with the path on which the clamps of said shuttles are guided from the shuttle receiving to the shuttle picking position, the opened clamp on a shuttle moving from the receiving to the picking position past a plurality of said thread feeder clamps, the shuttle clamp straddlng the thread feeder clamps.

References cned in the are of uns paient UNITED STATES PATENTS 

